5 Oct 2005

Fiji police boss may take court action to retain budget control

4:48 pm on 5 October 2005

The Fiji Police Commissioner says he is prepared to go to court to fight changes giving the ministry of home affairs control over his department's budget.

Recent amendments placed the police and military budgets under the control of the ministry's authority.

Commissioner Andrew Hughes and the head of the military, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, say the moves impinge on their constitutional independence.

Mr Hughes says the two are united in their opposition.

"The commander and I are meeting this week to work through this and make a joint representation to the ministry of finance. If that's unsuccessful then we are already bracing ourselves for a judicial review through the High Court on our constitutional independence."

Commissioner Andrew Hughes.